Language and Culture in Aboriginal Australia

by Michael Walsh, Colin Yallop

How many Aboriginal languages are there? Where are they spoken? How are they learned by children? Are there dictionaries of Aboriginal languages? What is the connection between the land, people and language in Aboriginal Australia? This book answers these questions and more by providing a series of studies of different aspects of language and culture in different parts of Aboriginal Australia.

Genres: Nonfiction

250 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Jenny Kirkby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fifteen essays on different but interrelated topics of language, specific to Australia's indigenous languages and culture. I learnt a lot! It would have been fascinating to have been able to do the discussion exercises as part of a group.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked the selection of essays in this book. Roughly time-based, i.e. earliest records to modern and inclusive of the political implications of language, this book was informative and well-edited. It includes information not only about many Australian Aboriginal languages and dialects, but also about languages (creoles) that emerged 'in between' the colonists and the Aborigines.

Later chapters cited historical examples of the consequences of language - using records and summaries of legal cases. Particularly interesting was the summary of a case where an Aborigine pled guilty to a crime she did not commit - the linguistic and cultural analysis of the interrogation process was thoughtfully written.

People who have interest / background in linguistics will enjoy this book most, however, it is written at a level that makes the majority of the essays accessible to the casual reader as well.